NEW DELHI : Speaking on the eve of 42nd Foundation Day (Sthapana Divas) of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union Minister and Senior Central BJP leader, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that at the first Convention of BJP held on 6th April 1980, Atal Bihari Vajpayee has predicted that a day will come when “Lotus (BJP poll symbol) will bloom and Narendra Modi actualised this prediction when he became the Prime Minister of the first-ever government formed by BJP on its own after winning 282 seats in the Lok Sabha election of 2014.

In the Mumbai rally referred to as BJP Maha Adhiveshan, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled, Vajpayee had said “Andhera Chhatega, Sooraj Niklega, Kamal Khilega (The darkness will go, the Sun will come out and the Lotus will bloom)”. In the years to come, it was Narendra Modi, who fulfilled this pledge and led BJP to an astounding victory, which was followed by Modi’s oath ceremony as Prime Minister on the evening of 26th May 2014. This was the most widely watched oath ceremony of any Head of the State anywhere in the world, with the glaring visuals of thousands of television sets actually lightening up the twilight darkness and marking the beginning of a new journey under Modi’s visionary leadership, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, one of the founding fathers of Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay gave us the concept of integral humanism and “Antyodaya”, but it is Narendra Modi, the longest serving head of government for over 20 years, first as Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister, who successfully initiated pro-people schemes and programmes, which ensured that the benefits reach the last man in the last queue. The schemes like Ujjawala, PM Awas Yojana and Izzat-ghar Sauchalayas for women have not only touched the inner chord of the deprived Indians but have also contributed to the enhancement of Modi’s stature and popularity with each passing day.

Describing Bharatiya Janata Party as the only truly democratic Party born after the independence of India in the context of the needs and requirements of contemporary India, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is a matter of research thesis to understand how BJP beginning with a Party of just two Members in Lok Sabha after 1984 elections, today has 303 members in the 17th Lok Sabha. He said, this has been possible because BJP is not a mere political party but an idea which is seeded in the minds of every nationalist Indian and follows the uniform fair dictum of “justice for all, appeasement to none”.

As the largest political party of the world today, Dr Jitendra Singh said, BJP has vindicated Modi’s work culture of full time devotion with absolute sincerity and 24×7 dedication to work to improve the lot of the deprived.

Inspired by Modi, BJP under J P Nadda and Amit Shah has actually introduced a new political culture in India, which other political parties are seeking to emulate for their survival.

Two soldiers injured, hospitalized: Army

Srinagar: A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed and two soldiers were injured in an overnight gunfight in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Friday, officials said.

“Based on specific input regarding presence of (militants) in Turkwangam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police alongwith (army’s) 44RR and 178 battalion CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said.

“During the search operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding (militant) fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter,” he said.

In the ensuing encounter, he said, one militant was killed. He has been identified as Muneeb Ahmad Sheikh son of Shah Mohammad Sheikh of Tak Mohalla Shopian, affiliated with LeT. Official sources said the he had joined militant ranks in January this year.

The police spokesperson said that “incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a Chinese pistol, one magazine and 5 rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.”

”As per police records the killed was a categorized (militant) and part of groups involved in several cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.”

Meanwhile, Army in a statement said that while the cordon was being tightened at around 10:30 pm on Thursday, the militant lobbed a grenade, causing injuries to two soldiers of the Indian Army, who were subsequently evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar.

“Fire continued to be exchanged throughout the night into the intervening morning of April 1,” he said, adding, “The (militant) was subsequently neutralized. A thorough search of the house was conducted in the morning and on finding no other (militants), the operation was called off. Warlike stores have been recovered from the encounter area,” army said in a statement”. (GNS)

Srinagar: Three associates of Jash-e-Mohammad militant outfit were arrested in Pulwama distinct of south Kashmir on Friday, police said.

“Police alongwith 55RR and 182 and 183 battalion CRPF busted a (militant) module of JeM by arresting three (of its) associates in Pulwama,” a police spokesperson said.

They have been identified as Owais Altaf son of Altaf Hussain Ganai resident of Jandwal, Aqib Manzoor son of Manzoor Ahmad Mir resident of Gudoora and Waseem Ahmad Pandit son of Ghulam Mohammad Pandit of Karimabad Pulwama.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested trio was involved in providing logistics and transportation to (militants) in the district,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 AK rifle, 03 magazines, 69 AK rounds and a grenade were recovered on their disclosure.”

Accordingly, he said, a case (FIR No. 77/2022) under relevant of sections of law stands registered in Police Station Pulwama. “Further investigation into the matter is in progress,” he added.